M Shed is a free museum dedicated to the history of Bristol, housed in a former dock warehouse on Princes Wharf.

Inside, you’ll see a historic double-decker bus, a Banksy mural and a statue of Edward Colston, which was toppled into the harbour by protesters in 2020.

Allow 60–90 minutes for your first visit.

🏨 Leonardo Royal Hotel Bristol – prices and availability – is situated on Prince Street. From the hotel, you can walk across Prince Street Bridge straight to the museum.

What to see inside the museum

• Bristol Places is a good place to start. The green double-decker bus is a reminder of the days when Bristol manufactured buses for the whole of Britain. The gallery also shows how the city and its transport systems have changed.
• Bristol People tells the story of the people, their work and their protests. Here you’ll also find a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston. The museum displays it in the context of the protests and the debate about whom the city commemorates in public spaces.
• Bristol Life focuses on everyday life in the city. Look out for the Grim Reaper at the entrance to the gallery on the first floor. Banksy originally painted it on the side of the ship Thekla, which is moored on the other side of the harbour.

Cranes, a steam train and boats on the quayside

In front of the museum stand four electric cargo cranes from the 1950s. On the quayside, you’ll also find the Fairbairn steam crane.

You can view the cranes even outside the museum’s opening hours.

On selected dates, the museum organises rides on a historic train along the harbour railway and tours of the working exhibits.

You can find dates and prices in the timetable for train journeys and tours of the harbour exhibits.

Admission and opening hours

Entry to the permanent exhibitions is free. Some temporary exhibitions and events require separate tickets.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00–17.00. It is usually closed on Mondays.

Please check the current opening hours schedule for any exceptions.

How to get to M Shed

It’s a 5–10-minute walk from the city centre, and about 20 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads station. If you’re coming from the Arnolfini Gallery on the north bank, cross Prince Street Bridge.

On the other side of the river, a short walk from the bridge, you’ll find the YHA Bristol hostel on Narrow Quay. As well as beds in shared rooms, it also offers private rooms.

After your visit, head past Wapping Wharf and continue along the southern quayside. Staying on the same side of the harbour, you’ll reach the SS Great Britain.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Bristol.